Pilot Preference

[TheGirlinPurple]

On initial climb, which would you prefer? A big shortcut that requires you to stay 5-10k below requested altitude for extended amount of time (generally about 5-8 minutes at the most) or requested altitude on course. What are some of the factors that would weigh in your decision?

 

[derg]

Requested altitude on course.

I got a series of slowdowns and vectors, hundreds of miles out and it's fairly dispruptive trying to guess when we're going to be back direct somewhere on normal speed.

We literally got:

Slow to .80

Slow to .78

Turn right 30 degrees.

Slow to .76

Direct XXX

Turn left 30 degrees

Slow to .75

Direct XXX

Turn right 30 degrees.

Direct XXX

Turn left 30 degrees...

That's enough to drive me nuts. Just give me an RTA.

 

[minitour]

Get me climbing ASAP, please.

-mini

 

[ppragman]

On initial climb, which would you prefer? A big shortcut that requires you to stay 5-10k below requested altitude for extended amount of time (generally about 5-8 minutes at the most) or requested altitude on course. What are some of the factors that would weigh in your decision?

I said big shortcut, but only because I'm flying piston non-turbo'd equipment. In turbine, or turbo'd equipment, I want high as quick as I can get it, unless I'm going to be fighting a headwind, then there's no sense holding, or if I'm going to have to hold at my destination to the extent of eating up the efficiency of fuel savings... So... Its complicated.

 

[MikeD]

On initial climb, which would you prefer? A big shortcut that requires you to stay 5-10k below requested altitude for extended amount of time (generally about 5-8 minutes at the most) or requested altitude on course. What are some of the factors that would weigh in your decision?

If you're an ARTCC, I don't talk to you anymore, so I have no dog in the fight.

 

[///AMG]

Immediate climb above 10k so I can use best climb speed (> 250 KIAS), and direct on course please. Got it once out of charleston SC en route to raleigh-durham NC, trying to race 2 convective sigmets. Leveled at FL240 with the quickness, checked in with washington center, got a friendly "thanks for your service, cleared raleigh direct" and firewalled the throttle the whole way. Made around 575-600 GS the whole way......was happy as a clam T-storms hit the field about 5 mins after we got our bags loaded into the rental

 

[Vector4Food]

Requested altitude on course.

I got a series of slowdowns and vectors, hundreds of miles out and it's fairly dispruptive trying to guess when we're going to be back direct somewhere on normal speed.

We literally got:

Slow to .80

Slow to .78

Turn right 30 degrees.

Slow to .76

Direct XXX

Turn left 30 degrees

Slow to .75

Direct XXX

Turn right 30 degrees.

Direct XXX

Turn left 30 degrees...

That's enough to drive me nuts. Just give me an RTA.

Geez Doug, I hope that wasn't in our airspace :crazy:

 

[Lee D]

Usually I want to climb to the requested altitude and on course.

Don't get me wrong, a shortcut is good, but probably not as desirable if it comes at the expense of altitude. Flying a turboprop in the West at lower altitudes usually means more exposure to potential ice and turbulence.

 

[jdlilfan]

I prefer the shortcut however a factor weighing my decision would be are you going to keep me in ice for 5-8 minutes.

 

[bike21]

Requested altitude on course.

I got a series of slowdowns and vectors, hundreds of miles out and it's fairly dispruptive trying to guess when we're going to be back direct somewhere on normal speed.

We literally got:

Slow to .80

Slow to .78

Turn right 30 degrees.

Slow to .76

Direct XXX

Turn left 30 degrees

Slow to .75

Direct XXX

Turn right 30 degrees.

Direct XXX

Turn left 30 degrees...

That's enough to drive me nuts. Just give me an RTA.

Pffftt...you need to come up north more! Everyday ops for ORD

Actually heard an Eagle captain yell at center one day about this about how it causes him to run low on fuel, be late, let his coffee get cold, generally ruin his life etc. Aside from laughing at this asshat, we thought to ourselves, "how about you just take on more fuel like the rest of us?"

 

[MikeD]

Actually heard an Eagle captain yell at center one day about this about how it causes him to run low on fuel, be late, let his coffee get cold, generally ruin his life etc.

Why didn't ATC come back with ".....all that you put up with, and you still make about as much as a McDonalds fry guy there Eagle XXXX"